More Photos From Kirk's Visit!

While driving through the mountains to Estes Park, Kirk wanted to stop and check out the fly fisherman in the river. Ever since I saw "A River Runs Through It," I've wanted to try fly fishing...with Brad Pitt, Robert Redford, and Craig Sheffer as my instructors. Hubba Hubba!

I realize it's a where's Waldo situation, but if you look closely you'll see the fly fisherman.

A rest stop in the mountains. This may have been worse than using "Turkish toilets" in Italy, which are engineered with two foot grooves and a hole in the ground. A word to the wise if ever using a "Turkish toilet" -- do NOT wear overalls!

Kirk and I stopped at an Indian shop nestled in the mountains on our way to The Stanley Hotel. Although a little corny, they had beautiful Native American jewelry made mostly of their "mother rock," also known as turquiose. They used a variety of coral, sugilite, charoite, and gaspeite as well.

Redrum: A Night at The Stanley Hotel!

One of America's most haunted dwellings, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

Grady's Daughters: "Come and play with us Danny...forever and ever."

Kirk and me at the back entrance of The Stanley, also known as "The Overlook" in Stephen King's "The Shining."

Jack Torrence: "You WERE the caretaker here, Mr. Grady."

Delbert Grady: "No sir, YOU are the caretaker. You've always been the caretaker. I ought to know: I've ALWAYS been here."

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Haunted History of The Stanley Hotel

Stephen King stayed at The Stanley Hotel in 1973, after the release of his novels "Carrie" and "Salem's Lot." After his stay at The Stanley, King had an idea for his third novel. During his visit, King drank heavily with the hotel's bartender, Delbert Grady. King was so intoxicated when heading back to his room, he got lost and found himself on the hotel's 4th floor. While stumbling down a long corridor, King saw two children playing with a red ball who soon disappeared into the dark abyss. Later King found out that in the early 1900's the 4th floor was reserved for wealthy children and their nannies. King spent the next few months in room 217 writing about isolation, telepathy, and spirits. He entitled it, "The Shining."

In 1980, when "The Shining" was made into a movie, Stanley Kubrick wasn't able to film at The Stanley because the town was too close to the hotel and adequate power didn't exist at the time. Kubrick used exterior shots of Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, Oregon. Sets of the hotel's interior were then built in England, where Kubrick also found the hedge maze.

In 1996, Stephen King remade "The Shining" into a 6 hour mini-series, which more closely followed the book. King also made sure the series was filmed exclusively at his beloved Stanley Hotel.

The Stanley Hotel has also been featured on the Sci-Fi Channel's "Ghost Hunters," where they captured footage of various paranormal activity, such as, electric voice phenomenons (EVP), orbs, and moving objects. Most of this occured in room 401, just three doors down from the room Kirk and I stayed in. Yikes!

While filming "Dumb and Dumber" Jim Carey stayed in room 217, the most requested suite in the hotel thanks to Stephen King. After only 3 hours, Carey ran down to the front desk and demanded to be moved to the Holiday Inn. The front desk clerk asked if Carey would like another room, but he insisted that he leave the hotel immediately. To this day, Jim Carey has never publically revealved what he experienced in room 217.

REDRUM! REDRUM! REDRUM!

The Buckhorn Exchange: Denver's #1 Suds & Grub!

This is the infamous Buckhorn Exchange, Denver's oldest bar and restaurant.

The Buckhorn is known for their wide selection of wild game, such as elk, bison, quail, cornish game hen, Colorado lamb, alligator, and their ever-so-popular 4 lbs. steaks. Our appetizers, pictured above, were rocky mountain oysters (bull testicles) and rattlesnake dip. I wish I would have known what rocky mountain oyster were before I fellated those greasy balls. Ha!

I ordered the dry aged bison ribeye with the bone. It was, hands down, the best meal I've had in Denver! God, I love eating grub like a pirate, or cowgirl for that matter.

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The ambiance was down and dirty, just how we like it out here in the old west. The Buckhorn is a two story brick building with bullet holes in the walls from a shoot-out occuring in 1900. The main floor contains the restaurant, with the bar and outdoor patio situated upstairs. Belonging to The Buckhorn is Colorado's first liquor license, which is still hanging behind their bar.